Clagett Regatta Expands To Include Blind Sailors

C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta 2008

Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Building on its mission to provide sailors with disabilities the opportunity to hone their competitive skills, the 2008 C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta has expanded to welcome the participation of blind sailors.

This year will be the sixth annual running of this event will be hosted by Sail Newport, Rhode Island's Public Sailing Centre. Incorporating the 2008 Blind Sailing National Championship into the Clagett will not only work to develop the skills of sight-impaired sailors, but also will provide invaluable training for competitors preparing to compete in New Zealand at the 2009 IFDS Blind Sailing World Championship.

Scheduled for 17-21 August, the 2008 Clagett Regatta will kick off with a one-day clinic (18 August) that has become the hallmark of the event and is planned to again feature world champion sailors sharing their expertise on everything from the racing rules to match racing techniques.

On the water, racing will take place 19-21 August in the classes selected for the Paralympic Games - the one-person keelboat 2.4 Metre, two-person keelboat SKUD18, and the three-person keelboat Sonar. Sail Newport's fleet of J/22s will be utilized by the blind sailors who will race just two days (19-20 August) for the 2008 Blind Sailing National Championship title. The clinic and regatta is open to both US and foreign competitors.

"We are very excited to welcome the blind sailors into The Clagett family," said event founder Judy MCLENNAN, daughter of the event's namesake. "The growth of the event - from offering racing in Sonars (2003-2004), to include 2.4 Metres (2005), SKUD18s (2006), and J/22s (for 2008) - allows us to fulfil The Clagett's goal of providing sailors with disabilities not only the knowledge and tools to improve their skills, but also the opportunity to test them in competition."

The C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta honours the late Tom CLAGETT (1916-2001), a US Navy World War II veteran who learned to sail on the Chesapeake Bay. As a youngster he suffered temporary paralysis as the result of a bout of meningitis; it was an experience that left him with a deep respect for the accomplishments of people with disabilities, especially athletes.